Ground Turkey Rice Bowls (Print Page)
Seasoned ground turkey over jasmine rice with crisp veggies and sweet-spicy Bang Bang sauce for a quick, satisfying bowl.
# What You Need:
→ Rice
01 - 1 cup jasmine or basmati rice
02 - 2 cups water
03 - 1/2 teaspoon kosher salt
→ Ground Turkey
04 - 1 pound ground turkey
05 - 1 tablespoon vegetable oil
06 - 2 cloves garlic, minced
07 - 1/2 medium yellow onion, diced
08 - 1 tablespoon soy sauce
09 - 1 tablespoon hoisin sauce
10 - 1/2 teaspoon freshly ground black pepper
11 - 1 teaspoon sriracha (optional, for extra heat)
→ Bang Bang Sauce
12 - 1/2 cup mayonnaise
13 - 2 tablespoons sweet chili sauce
14 - 1 tablespoon sriracha
15 - 1 teaspoon honey
16 - 1 teaspoon fresh lime juice
→ Toppings and Vegetables
17 - 1 cup shredded carrots
18 - 1 cup thinly sliced English cucumber
19 - 1/2 cup thinly sliced red cabbage
20 - 2 green onions, thinly sliced
21 - 1 tablespoon toasted sesame seeds
# Directions:
01 - Rinse rice under cold running water until the runoff turns clear. Combine rinsed rice, 2 cups water, and salt in a medium saucepan. Bring to a rolling boil over high heat, then cover tightly, reduce heat to low, and simmer for 15 minutes. Remove from heat and let stand, still covered, for 5 minutes. Fluff grains with a fork before serving.
02 - While the rice rests, heat vegetable oil in a large skillet over medium heat. Add the diced onion and sauté for 2 to 3 minutes until softened and translucent. Stir in the minced garlic and cook for 1 minute until fragrant. Add the ground turkey, breaking it apart with a spatula, and cook for 5 to 7 minutes until evenly browned and cooked through.
03 - Pour soy sauce, hoisin sauce, black pepper, and sriracha over the browned turkey. Stir thoroughly to coat every piece and continue cooking for 2 more minutes until the sauce slightly caramelizes and clings to the meat. Remove the skillet from heat.
04 - In a small mixing bowl, whisk together mayonnaise, sweet chili sauce, sriracha, honey, and fresh lime juice until completely smooth and uniform. Taste and adjust the heat level by adding more sriracha if desired.
05 - Divide the fluffy rice evenly among 4 serving bowls. Layer each bowl with the seasoned ground turkey, shredded carrots, sliced cucumber, red cabbage, and green onions. Drizzle generously with Bang Bang sauce and finish with a sprinkling of toasted sesame seeds. Serve immediately.
# Expert Tips:
01 -
- The bang bang sauce is that magical combination of sweet, spicy, and creamy that makes everything it touches taste like takeout from your favorite spot.
- Ground turkey cooks in under ten minutes, which means you can have a fully loaded rice bowl on the table faster than delivery.
- Every single topping adds a different crunch, so each bite feels like a small surprise.
02 -
- Do not skip rinsing the rice because excess starch makes the grains gummy instead of fluffy and separate.
- The bang bang sauce thickens slightly as it sits, so if you are prepping ahead, stir in a splash of water or extra lime juice before serving to loosen it back up.
03 -
- Let the turkey sit undisturbed for the first two minutes in the pan so it develops actual browning instead of steaming in its own juices.
- Double the bang bang sauce and keep the extra in a squeeze bottle in the fridge because you will want it on everything from roasted broccoli to leftover pizza.